Other

The Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners have combined for a stranglehold on gymnastics national championships over the last five seasons, but it was the Sooners who beat the Gators on Saturday to win the 2017 NCAA Championships at the Super Six.

Oklahoma (198.3875) topped LSU (197.7375) and Florida (197.7000) to capture its second straight national title and third in the last four seasons by by posting the highest total in the history of the Super Six finals. The Gators were also looking for their third in four seasons as UF and OU were co-champions in 2014.

Florida finished third to LSU, which has now edged it in all four meetings between the programs this season and five straight dating back to the 2016 NCAA Semifinals. The Gators appeared to have second place locked up until the Tigers executed a new Super Six record in the balance beam on the final rotation.

The Gators posted a 49.5000 on floor exercise, 49.3625 on vault, 49.3000 on balance beam and 49.5375 on uneven bars. The Sooners bested them in all four disciplines, while the Tigers only excelled on beam.

Florida junior Alex McMurtry captured collegiate gymnastics’ top individual honor by winning the national title in the all-around competition on Friday. The 2017 SEC Gynanst of the Year, McMurtry hit 9.9750 on vault, 9.9500 on both bars and floor, and 9.9375 on beam. On Saturday, she received a perfect 10.0000 on bars.

McMurtry continued an incredible run for the Gators in the all-around with Florida winning five of the last six national titles dating back to 2012.

ABOUT US

OnlyGators.com (a/k/a ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive, Only Gators, OGGOA, OG) is an independent website owned by Only Gators, LLC. It is not affiliated in any way with the University of Florida, University Athletic Association or Florida Gators.